De'Anthony Thomas hasn't played for Oregon since Sept. 28, when he sprained his right ankle and was helped off the field after returning the opening kickoff 27 yards against Cal.Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

EUGENE -- De’Anthony Thomas said he is hopeful his sprained right ankle is healed enough to play Saturday night against Washington State, but the Oregon running back said he did not practice Monday because of soreness.

“I’m just not ready for it yet,’’ Thomas said. “I’m trying to recover and trying to get to how I was before the season started.’’

Thomas hasn’t played since Sept. 28, when he rolled his right ankle at the end of a 27-yard return of the opening kickoff against Cal. He wore a protective boot on the sideline of the Oct. 5 game at Colorado, and went through pregame warmups last week at Washington. However, he said he was nowhere near playing against the Huskies.

“I wasn’t close at all. At all,’’ Thomas said.

Thomas said he awoke Monday to the ankle feeling “kind of sore,” but he twice said on Monday that the injury “is nothing that bad.”

Thomas is one of the most dangerous offensive weapons on the No. 2 Ducks. He averages 8.0 yards per carry, 19.3 yards per reception and has six rushing touchdowns. He also averages 23.2 yards per kickoff return.

Sophomore Byron Marshall and freshman Thomas Tyner have excelled at running back the past three games, and Keanon Lowe, Josh Huff and Troy Hill have all filled in on kick returns. Marshall rushed for 130 yards against Cal, 122 yards against Colorado and 106 yards against Washington. Tyner has rushed for 94 yards against Cal, 30 yards against Colorado and 57 against the Huskies.

“I’m proud of them,’’ Thomas said.

The No. 2 Ducks (6-0 overall, 3-0 Pac-12) play Washington State (4-3, 2-2) at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, before facing No. 9 UCLA on Oct. 26 at Autzen. After a bye week, the Ducks then play at No. 13 Stanford.

When Thomas will return is anybody’s guess. But Thomas left no doubt about his importance. When asked if teammate Marcus Mariota was the best player in college football, Thomas didn’t hesitate.

“Yes ... beside myself,’’ Thomas said. “He is the best quarterback in the country, you can say that.’’